Alora: The Portal (Alora 2)

“That’s right,” Alora confirmed.

“And every other weekend you’ve gone back?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“That’s got to be it. It’s because you didn’t go back to Laegenshire. Maybe the air is slightly different there and after a while something builds up and makes his head hurt. Like, maybe there’s more carbon dioxide or something like that. Maybe Kaevin has a different physiology because he’s from another realm, and he needs a higher percentage of oxygen. And your head hurts because you’re soulmates.”

Beth’s smile grew wide. “Maybe we could fix this with a little oxygen. Let’s see… Where could we get some medical oxygen?”

“I don’t know, Beth. Wouldn’t he be tired or something if he wasn’t getting enough oxygen?” Wesley argued.

“I don’t think so. I think his only symptom might be a headache.”

“Technically, isn’t Alora from the same realm as Kaevin? Both her parents were from that realm, and she’s never had a problem with our oxygen level.” Wesley opened his laptop and tapped on the keyboard. “Let’s see. Symptom-Checker. Headache. Is it, ‘pressure or squeezing, stabbing or burning, or throbbing’?”

“Yes, that describes it quite well,” said Kaevin.

“No, you’re supposed to pick one of those. Let’s try ‘stabbing or burning.’” Wesley tapped the keyboard again.

“Why don’t you Google ‘soulmates’ and ‘headaches’ and see what you get.” Beth rolled her eyes.

A worrisome thought popped into Alora’s mind. Her grandmother had been giving her lessons with daily exercise assignments to develop her gift as a bearer, but she’d neglected her practice. Suddenly, the idea of disappointing her grandmother seemed worse than having a stabbing headache. “Kaevin, can you get us some ibuprofen from the kitchen cabinet? I’ll send you in there.”

His eyes widened. “No, that’s not necessary. I can simply walk.”

“Please? How am I going to get better if I don’t practice?”

“Our heads already hurt, so perhaps you shouldn’t use your gift and further drain the soulmate bond.”

“Kaevin’s a chicken,” Beth teased. “Bwaak, bwaak, bwaak, bwaaaaaaak.”

Kaevin’s eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you let her transport you to the kitchen?”

“No, thanks. I don’t have a death wish.” Beth dissolved into giggles. She didn’t even look ashamed when Alora gave her the evil eye.

“Come on, she can’t be that bad,” said Wesley. “She transported all of us to Tenavae and back, multiple times. Surely she can send you into the kitchen without a problem.”

“That’s right,” Alora agreed, forgetting her headache as she felt Kaevin relenting. “Anyway, I have a lesson with Grandmother tomorrow, and she’ll be mad if I haven’t practiced since our last lesson.”

“You could transport Wesley into the kitchen to retrieve the headache circles,” Kaevin suggested.

“Kaevin, you know I’m better at moving you than other people.”

“Uhmm…. yes. However, our heads are feeling better with the ice, so perhaps we don’t even need the circles.”

“I-bu-pro-fen,” Alora corrected. “And I still need the practice. Grandmother has our next session planned for tomorrow.”

With a dramatic sigh, Kaevin rose to his feet, bending in a defensive crouch while using one hand to keep the ice against his temple. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t throw me on top of the table this time.”

“I’m sending you right in front of the kitchen sink. The ibuprofen is with the other medicine in the cabinet to the left of the sink.” Alora tamped down her nerves, trying to appear confident. Why didn’t I practice this week? Closing her eyes to concentrate, she set the bag of ice on the floor by her feet. She imagined Kaevin standing in the kitchen right in front of the sink. Ready. Set. “Ow!” A sharp stabbing pain in her forehead interrupted her focus.

From the kitchen came Kaevin’s voice crying out along with a series of metallic crashes. Bounding from his chair, Wesley hurried into the kitchen.

“What happened, Alora? Are you okay? You’re white as a sheet.” Beth’s forehead creased as she inspected Alora’s face.

“It’s my head. It hurts even worse. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried a transport. Is Kaevin okay?”

Alora had her answer as Wesley emerged from the kitchen, supporting Kaevin with one arm. “He was in the kitchen sink instead of in front of it.” Wesley helped Kaevin back to the couch, where he collapsed beside Alora.